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Parliament’s winter session gets off to a stormy start, has 40 Bills on agenda

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Parliament’s winter session gets off to a stormy start, has 40 Bills on agenda

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As Congress and other Opposition parties hope to corner Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government on a slew of issues, stormy session likely

The bitter war of words between the BJP and the Congress, seen during the election campaign for Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat Assemblies ended on Thursday, moved on to the Parliament on Friday with the start of its winter session.

The much delayed session got off to a stormy start with uproarious scenes forcing repeated adjournments. While the Lok Sabha sitting wound up for the day after obituary references, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice in an hour and was to resume business later in the afternoon at 2.30.

The Parliament has a heavy load of business to transact in this session with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government putting as many as 40 Bills on the agenda.

Minutes before the session began on Friday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the customary appeal for a constructive session.

However, with the Opposition, particularly the Congress party and its president-elect Rahul Gandhi, ready with a slew of issues to corner the government and especially the Prime Minister, it remains to be seen whether the session – with just 14 working days before it ends on January 15 – will actually see any major legislative business.

As the sitting began, Opposition leaders in Rajya Sabha questioned the Chair’s decision to disqualify senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav. Even as Chairman Venkaiah Naidu continued to tell the leaders of Opposition to sit down, Leader of Opposition in Upper House Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Opposition did not intend to question the Chair’s decision but demanded clarification on why was Yadav expelled from the Rajya Sabha. The furore led to the House being adjourned till noon.

When the House resumed, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad raised the issue of Modi’s allegations against former prime minister Manmohan Singh and others of conspiring with Pakistan for Gujarat election. “Ye sadharan aarop nahi hai (This isn’t a ordinary allegation),” Azad said.  The uproar that followed forced the House to be adjourned again, till 2.30 pm.

On the agenda for the ongoing session are key legislations, including the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, 2017, the Citizen (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017, the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill, 2017.

According to a list compiled by the PRS Legislative Research, 25 bills have been listed for consideration and passing, 14 Bills are listed for introduction, consideration, and passing, while one bill is listed for withdrawal.

Many of the Bills on the agenda are controversial and would, if and when tabled, undoubtedly lead to howls of protests from the Opposition benches.

But even before the government actually begins pushing its legislative agenda, it would first have to find ways to blunt the Opposition’s tirade over issues which are not related to the matters that have presently been placed for the Parliament’s consideration.

The Congress party is desperate to press for an apology on the floor of Parliament from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent allegation against its leaders, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and former Vice President of India Hamid Ansari. During the recently concluded Gujarat Assembly poll campaign, Modi had accused Dr Singh, Ansari and the Congress party of holding a ‘secret meeting’ with Pakistani officials at the residence of suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and alleged that the leaders were hatching a conspiracy with Pakistan over the Gujarat elections. The outlandish claim had outraged the Congress and forced even the mild-mannered Dr Manmohan Singh to launch a scathing broadside against the Prime Minister who he said was spreading “falsehoods and canards”.

The ‘Pakistan conspiracy’ issue aside, the Congress party also hopes to put the Prime Minister and his closest aide, BJP president Amit Shah on the mat over allegations of financial impropriety against the latter’s son, Jay Shah.

It is pertinent to note that the ongoing winter session marks the debut of Amit Shah as a parliamentarian – he had been elected to the Rajya Sabha in September. The session will also be the first for Rahul Gandhi after his recent elevation as President of the Congress party.

The Opposition benches also hope to corner the government over issues related to GST, rising unemployment, unabated inflation, allegations of financial irregularities against Shaurya Doval, the son of Modi’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, inconvenience caused to the public at large over the government’s insistence of mandatory Aadhaar-linking with a host of services and welfare schemes, among others.

While the government may have an ambitious legislative agenda for the winter session and hope to carry a chunk of it through, at least in the Lok Sabha based on its brute majority, it would face a major challenge in the Rajya Sabha where the combined Opposition still has greater numerical strength.

The Opposition’s anger against the Modi government aside, the Centre’s legislative agenda itself is bound to trigger a logjam. For instance, the government hopes to get the National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Bill, 2017 passed in the current session. In the monsoon session of parliament, while this Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha, the Congress had succeeded in getting three amendments moved to the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, leaving Modi red-faced. The government hopes to have its version of the Bill cleared by Parliament in this session but such a move is unlikely to be accepted by the Opposition.

Similarly, the Centre’s GST Amendment Bill, FRDI Bill, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Bill, Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, Citizen (Amendment) Bill, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill are all likely to face intense scrutiny and protests by the Opposition.

It remains to be seen how, despite its absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, the Modi government will try to realise the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hope for a “productive session”. Not to forget, the result for the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections are scheduled for December 18 (Monday) – the day when the Lok Sabha is scheduled to reconvene after being adjourned on Friday following obituary references. Exit polls have predicted a BJP victory in both states but irrespective of the outcome of the polls, the result is bound to create an upheaval in both Houses of Parliament which will most likely washout another day or two of the already brief session.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India and Russia vow to walk together against terrorism, reaffirm strategic partnership

PM Modi and President Putin reaffirm India-Russia unity against terrorism, deepen energy and trade cooperation, and discuss peace efforts amid the Ukraine conflict.

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December 5, 2025

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday underlined that India and Russia “walk together in the fight against terrorism,” reinforcing a decades-old strategic partnership that remains steady amid global geopolitical churn. The leaders issued the joint statement following talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi, where they also announced steps to boost trade, economic cooperation, and energy collaboration.

India-Russia stand firm on counter-terror cooperation

PM Modi described President Putin as a “dear friend” and highlighted Moscow’s consistent support to India on counter-terror efforts. Russia had earlier strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, allegedly linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, and reiterated solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism in all forms.

The joint remarks emphasized that the bilateral friendship, rooted in trust and mutual respect, has remained resilient for decades despite global challenges.

Focus on energy, trade and use of national currencies

A key highlight of the engagement was Russia reaffirming “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India. PM Modi expressed gratitude for Russia’s commitment, noting energy cooperation as a crucial pillar of the relationship. While he did not specifically mention oil purchases, given ongoing Western pressure, he emphasised cooperation in civil nuclear and clean energy.

The two countries also discussed expanding economic ties, including a possible free trade agreement. President Putin said bilateral trade was being targeted to reach USD 100 billion, and acknowledged progress toward using national currencies for payments — a remark expected to draw global attention.

Putin shares peace plan insights on Ukraine conflict

Putin briefed the Prime Minister on Russia’s perspective for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war and appreciated India’s continued role as a “champion of peace.” PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position on dialogue and diplomacy.

Agreements across jobs, health, shipping and minerals

Officials exchanged multiple agreements covering employment mobility, health, shipping, chemicals and cooperation in critical minerals — further broadening the strategic footprint of the partnership.

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RBI cuts repo rate to 5.25%, paving the way for cheaper loans

The RBI has cut the repo rate to 5.25%, aiming to support growth as inflation softens. The central bank also raised GDP projections and announced liquidity-boosting measures.

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6 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the key repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on Thursday, signalling relief for borrowers as banks are expected to offer lower EMIs on home and vehicle loans. Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the move after the conclusion of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

RBI prioritises growth as inflation eases

Malhotra said the decision was unanimous, with the central bank choosing to focus on supporting economic momentum despite concerns over a weak rupee. The repo rate was earlier cut in June from 6% to 5.5% amid easing inflation trends.

The RBI now projects Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 2% for FY2025-26, significantly softer than earlier estimates. For the first quarter of FY2026-27, inflation is expected at 3.9%, lower than the previous projection. The governor noted that rising precious metal prices may contribute to the headline CPI, but overall risks to inflation remain balanced.

GDP outlook strengthened

In a strong upward revision, the central bank increased the GDP forecast for the current financial year to 7.3%, previously estimated at 6.8%. Growth for the October–December quarter has also been revised to 6.7%.

The last quarter registered a six-quarter high expansion of 8.2%, reflecting resilient demand and steady credit flow.

“The growth-inflation balance continues to offer policy space,” Malhotra said, reiterating that the RBI’s stance remains neutral.

Other key decisions

Alongside the repo rate cut, the RBI announced adjustments to key policy corridors:

  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5%
  • Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): 5.5%

To improve liquidity and strengthen monetary transmission, the RBI will conduct forex swaps and purchase ₹1 lakh crore worth of government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMO).

RBI reviews a challenging year

Reflecting on 2025, Malhotra said the year delivered strong growth and moderate inflation even as global trade and geopolitical uncertainties persisted. He added that bank credit and retail lending remained healthy, providing support to the economy.

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IndiGo flight chaos deepens as over 500 services cancelled, passengers stranded for hours

Over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled nationwide, leaving passengers stranded without food, clarity or their luggage as airports struggled to manage the disruption.

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6 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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IndiGo flight

India’s largest airline continued to face massive operational breakdowns, triggering frustration among travellers at major airports across the country. From piles of unattended suitcases to passengers waiting over 12 hours without food or clarity, the disruption stretched into its fourth consecutive day.

Long delays, no communication leave passengers anguished

Several travellers at Delhi airport described the situation as “mental torture”, as thousands of unclaimed suitcases lay scattered across the terminal. Many slept on the floor, while others expressed anger over the lack of communication from airline staff.

One flier said he had been waiting for over 12 hours without any explanation: “Every time they say one-hour or two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding but don’t even have our luggage.”

A passenger in Hyderabad recounted a similar ordeal, saying the flight was delayed indefinitely with no food, water, or updates from the airline. At the airport, some travellers blocked an Air India flight in protest over the lack of arrangements.

Goa and Chennai airports also witnessed tense moments. Videos from Goa showed fliers shouting at IndiGo staff as police attempted to calm the situation. At Chennai, CISF denied entry to IndiGo passengers due to heavy congestion.

Major metro airports impacted; cascading cancellations nationwide

Flight cancellations and delays were reported across multiple airports:

  • Over 200 flights were cancelled in Delhi
  • More than 100 each in Mumbai and Bengaluru
  • Around 90 in Hyderabad
  • Dozens more in Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Bhopal

Pune airport stated that parking bay congestion worsened the situation, as several IndiGo aircraft remained grounded due to lack of crew. Other airlines continued operations without disruption.

Airport authorities said they had mobilised additional manpower for crowd control and passenger support.

IndiGo admits planning lapses, says more cancellations expected

The airline acknowledged a “misjudgment” in assessing crew requirements under revised night-duty norms, which it said created planning gaps. Winter weather and airport congestion further aggravated the crisis.

IndiGo informed the aviation ministry and DGCA that some regulatory changes—such as the shift in night-duty timings and a cap on night landings—have been rolled back temporarily to stabilise operations.

The airline warned that cancellations may continue for another two to three days, and from December 8, schedules will be trimmed to prevent further disruption.

In a message to employees, CEO Pieter Elbers said restoring punctuality would not be an “easy target”.

Airline issues apology amid nationwide frustration

In a late-night statement, IndiGo apologised to customers and industry partners, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The airline said all teams were working with authorities to bring operations back to normal.

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